Winners of a Chinese speaking contest, held as part of the Shanghai Summer School’s Chinese language training program for foreign diplomats based in Shanghai, pose for a photo on June 3. The program has been held at East China Normal University every March through June for seven years. [Photo provided to study-shanghai.org]

The curtain came down on a Chinese language training program for diplomats based in Shanghai on June 3.

A part of the Shanghai Summer School series, the program was run with support from the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office and East China Normal University (ECNU).

Huang Meixu, director of the global education center at ECNU, congratulated the diplomats and praised the program’s progress over the past seven years. According to Huang, more than 350 diplomats from some 40 countries have taken part in the program.

Sabri Tunç Angili, the Turkish consul-general in Shanghai, delivered a speech on behalf of all the participants. He shared some interesting moments in learning Chinese and experiencing Chinese culture, and expressed his gratitude to the language teachers and the organizers.

Foreign diplomats based in Shanghai take part in various cultural activities, such as making dumplings and painting Peking Opera facial masks. [Photo provided to study-shanghai.org]

A traditional program run by ECNU every March through June, this year's edition supplemented the usual high-quality language courses and cultural activities with popular classes such as making dumplings, painting Peking Opera masks, and a lecture on fengshui, the traditional Chinese study of geomancy for buildings or cemeteries.

The event also included a Chinese speaking contest, in which diplomats from Australia, the US, Russia, Belgium and Thailand competed to demonstrate their mastery over the language through speeches, recitals and singing performances.

Camila Gomez Hormaza, the Colombian consul general in Shanghai, won first prize after sharing her Chinese connections and experience as a diplomat in fluent Chinese.

Yang Weiren, an official at the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, spoke highly of the contestants' performances, and said he looked forward to more foreign diplomats in Shanghai taking part in the program.

Foreign consuls are offered high-quality Chinese language classes, which cater specifically to their daily work as diplomats. [Photo provided to study-shanghai.org]